Thursday, January 21, 2016

Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Executives announces board changes, adding Jim Ladwig, Guy Gryphan, Nancy Smith, and Marianne Hanson; Chamber news: 12th Annual Best Places to Work in Kentucky Award Winners Announced; Northern Virginia Chamber Unveils 2016 Legislative Agenda; Marion Chamber of Commerce holds 95th annual Auction & Awards Banquet; #BestChamber Practices: Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber: Do you own a second business?; Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce president Jay Julian resigning; Chamber good news: Downtown Harbor Springs Being Revitalized with New Businesses; Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles



Good morning Chamber World! It's going to be a GREAT day!


Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Executives put Phil Fritsche, Bob Moses and Shannon Full in executive roles; announces board changes, adding Jim Ladwig, Guy Gryphan, Nancy Smith, and Marianne Hanson



The Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Executives association (WCCE), a division of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC), welcomed changes and additions to its Board of Directors.

Beaver Dam Area Chamber of Commerce President Philip Fritsche will take over as President of the board. Robert Moses, President & CEO of Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce and Shannon Full, President & CEO of the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce and Industry will assume positions as President-Elect and Vice President respectively.

"The WCCE Board is looking forward to partnering with and supporting our state chamber, WMC, in 2016. We're engaging in exciting projects and programs both in our respective communities and at the state level with initiatives like the Future Wisconsin Project," said WCCE President Philip Fritsche. "We are all optimistic about the future of Wisconsin."

WCCE's new directors include Guy Gryphan, Executive Director of the DeForest Area Chamber of Commerce; Marianne Hanson, Executive Director of Portage Area Chamber of Commerce; Jim Ladwig, President of Racine Area Manufacturers & Commerce and Nancy Smith, Executive Director of Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce. Read more: The STAR


Chamber news: 12th Annual Best Places to Work in Kentucky Award Winners Announced

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 21, 2016) – The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the Kentucky Society for Human Resource Management (KYSHRM) announce the companies that made the 12th Annual Best Places to Work in Kentucky list, presented by Kentucky Career Center and the State Information Data Exchange System (UI SIDES). The winner rankings will be announced at an awards dinner Wednesday, April 20, 2016, at Heritage Hall in the Lexington Convention Center. The program set new records this year by celebrating 100 winners for the first time in its history.

Winners from across the state have been selected in three categories: small companies of 15-149 employees, medium companies of 150-499 employees and large companies consisting of more than 500 employees (categories based on number of U.S. employees, only Kentucky employees surveyed). The selection process, managed by Best Companies Group, is based on an assessment of the company’s employee policies and procedures and the results of an internal employee survey.

The competition is a multi-year initiative designed to motivate companies in the Commonwealth to focus, measure and move their workplace environments toward excellence. Numerous studies show a strong correlation between profitability and creating a good place to work.

The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce is the only business association in the state advocating for companies of all sizes and industries across the Commonwealth. The Kentucky Chamber represents the interests of more than 90,000 Kentucky employers from Paducah to Pikeville.

Kentucky SHRM consists of 13 local chapters that provide ongoing education and leadership opportunities for over 2,700 human resource professionals throughout the Commonwealth.

For more details about Best Places to Work in Kentucky, visit www.bestplacestoworkky.com or to learn about sponsor and exhibitor opportunities, click here.

To register for the awards dinner click here.

View the complete list of winners!





Northern Virginia Chamber Unveils 2016 Legislative Agenda 


Northern Virginia Business Community Focuses on Initiatives to Diversify Regional Economy and Propel the Commonwealth to Prosperity
Tysons, Va. – The Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce (Northern Virginia Chamber), formerly the Fairfax Chamber, has released its 2016 Legislative Agenda outlining the Chamber’s positions on issues for the upcoming 2016 Virginia General Assembly session. 

The Northern Virginia Chamber’s 2016 Legislative Agenda is a comprehensive, 28-page roadmap for prosperity in Virginia and provides the regional business community’s positions and rationale on a number of key issues including transportation, education, right-to-work, public-private partnerships, healthcare, and energy.

The Northern Virginia Chamber’s 2016 Legislative Agenda focuses on the business community’s support for increased investments in early childhood and K-12 education funding. Virginia’s education system is threatened by chronic underfunding. Since FY 2009, structural budget cuts to K‐12 have cost localities more than $1.7 billion per biennium statewide. State K‐12 funding in FY 2016 remains below the FY 2009 level.

The Northern Virginia Chamber will support an expanded research and development tax credit. The efforts to promote an expanded research and development tax credit began last year with legislation patroned by Delegate Tim Hugo (R- Centreville) that was studied over the interim. Legislative proposals to improve the current credit for small enterprises while creating a pool for large companies should enhance the Commonwealth’s competitiveness toward building next generation technologies.

Lastly, the Northern Virginia Chamber will also focus on equaling the playing field when it comes to the apportionment of Business, Professional and Occupational License (BPOL) taxes in the Commonwealth. Last year, the Virginia Supreme Court took up the case Arlington v. Nielsen. In that case, the Court reversed and remanded a decision by the Arlington County Circuit Court addressing the out-of-state deduction that may be taken for BPOL tax purposes. However, in the wake of the ruling, the Virginia Department of Taxation has chosen not to promulgate new tax regulations and have instead relied on rulings and guidelines that have led to more uncertainty and possible inconsistent interpretations/applications by localities. We seek legislation to ensure that individual localities are not applying a different apportionment policy across Virginia.

“The Northern Virginia Chamber and its member companies are committed to working with legislators to ensure the region and the Commonwealth remain one of the best places to start or grow a business,” said Doug Brammer of Verizon and Chairman of the Northern Virginia Chamber’s Policy Committee.

“The 2016 Legislative Agenda provides a path forward for legislators in Richmond to ensure Northern Virginia, the economic driver of the Commonwealth, grows for years to come,” said Jim Corcoran, president and CEO of the Northern Virginia Chamber. “Even in a challenging budget environment, the Commonwealth needs to continue to attract and retain businesses and top talent in an increasingly competitive global economy.”
“The Northern Virginia Chamber’s legislative agenda is more than any one issue, rather it is a guide by which the business community believes that together we can build a stronger Virginia. It will touch on many issues, including transportation, healthcare, and energy,” said Mitch Weintraub, Partner, Cordia Partners, and Chairman, Northern Virginia Chamber.

The Legislative Agenda was developed over the course of numerous meetings of the Northern Virginia Chamber’s Policy Committee, whose membership spans the spectrum of the regional business community.

The Northern Virginia Chamber maintains a full-time presence in Richmond during the General Assembly session. Northern Virginia Chamber members are invited to participate in weekly legislative conference calls. Each Friday morning staff will update participants on important legislative activity going on in Richmond Chamber members will also be able to offer advice and feedback to Chamber leaders and staff.

For more than a quarter of a century, the Northern Virginia Chamber has been proud to host the region’s only annual political debate for congressional candidates or candidates for statewide office. Hosting these debates offers a unique opportunity for the Northern Virginia business community to see candidates firsthand as they go head-to-head on the issues that matter most.

In addition, the Northern Virginia Chamber established the Northern Virginia Business Political Action Committee (NOVABIZPAC) in 2002 to support Virginia legislators and policymakers who champion a pro-business agenda. NOVABIZPAC’s mission is to utilize the resources of the regional business community to assure the future successes of key business issues.

One of the most influential PACs in the Commonwealth of Virginia, NOVABIZPAC uses the Northern Virginia Chamber’s legislative agenda as its guide as to which candidates to support in Northern Virginia and across the state.

NOVABIZPAC allows the Northern Virginia regional business community to collectively organize its political action to elect candidates who share the Northern Virginia Chamber’s goal of job creation and a business-friendly economic climate


For more information about the Northern Virginia Chamber's legislative agenda, contact advocacy@NOVAChamber.org. To download the 2016 Northern Virginia Chamber Legislative Agenda, click here.

Marion Chamber of Commerce holds 95th annual Auction & Awards Banquet


The 95th annual Marion Chamber of Commerce Auction & Awards Banquet was held on Friday, January 15, 2016, at The Pavilion. 
The evening began with the Social Hour, sponsored by Mayer Networks, at 5:30 p.m. Social Hour featured hors d'oeuvres, beverages and entertainment by Brock Bertling.

The program began with a welcome by the emcee, Jon Wofford. Dalus Ben Avi, executive director of the Marion Chamber, gave the Chamber Year-in-Review and introduced the slideshow that featured the highlights from 2015 at the Marion Chamber.

Rev. Scott Kallem with Third Baptist Church gave the invocation and Wofford led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. Miss Illinois Crystal Davis performed the National Anthem, and then dinner was served.

The 2015 Marion Chamber of Commerce Chairman Ashley Gott reflected on his year leading the Chamber. The 2016 Chairman, Doug Kimmel, then spoke about his thoughts about taking the helm.

Finally, the Awards Ceremony began. The following awards were given:
  • Award of Excellence in Philanthropy: the late Steve McNeill
  • Mayor's Service Award: John Goss
  • Business of the Year: Ike Family Dealerships
  • Young Professional Leadership Award: Matt Monchino
  • Distinguished Chamber Member Award: Tracey Glenn
  • Citizen of the Year Award: Mike Absher
  • Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. John O'Keefe 
Read more: Marion Chamber


#BestChamber Practices: Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber: Do you own a second business?

As a Chamber Member if you own more than one business you have the opportunity to join your second business as an associate member for only $100.  
  

You receive all the great benefits and perks plus a $100 savings. 
So take advantage of this great offer and watch your businesses grow.

Thank You!
for being a Chamber & EDF Member!  More information: Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber



Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce president Jay Julian resigning


The leader of a pair of area economic development groups will leave his post in September.

Jay Julian, who has served as president and chief executive officer of the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce since July 2009, is resigning to join his wife, Leisa, in Kansas. Leisa Julian was hired as the chief financial officer and vice chancellor at University of Kansas on Jan. 12 and will begin her post in mid-February.

"I've informed both (my boards) I'll be resigning at the end of our fiscal year," Jay Julian said. "I'll help launch our capital campaign and ... I'll stay here to help make for an easier transition for my successor."

Both the chamber and the city-county Economic Development Alliance, for which Julian is chief economic development officer, are expected to determine courses of action in the coming weeks.


Julian, a Marion native, said the capital campaign funds the alliance's Vision project and is a crucial part to the road map for the area's future. Read more: The Star-Press


Chamber good news: Downtown Harbor Springs Being Revitalized with New Businesses


A Northern Michigan downtown is seeing a ton of growth with more to come.
Several new stores have opened in the past year and a new theatre is also on the way.
They're among new restaurants, retail and other businesses opening in downtown Harbor Springs in Emmet County.
9 & 10's Blayke Roznowski and photojournalist Erin Malone show us how these new businesses are revitalizing Harbor Springs.
"It's exciting to see people having a new passion for Harbor Springs growth and we're just kind of starting with that," Paper Station Bistro owner and operator Tawna Naturkas said.
New businesses have been popping up left and right in downtown Harbor Springs. The Paper Station Bistro opened this past July and has already gotten great response.
"So far so good," Naturkas said. "I mean this summer was better than I could have ever actually anticipated. People were so happy to have the space remodeled."
There's still more spaces looking to open up shop. The old Hotel Janelle, the restaurant formerly known as Juilleret's, and a new Lyric Theatre are all in the works. Read more: 9 & 10 News.com



Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles

 More information: Town Square Publications

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